ICAR-ICARDA collaborative Program’s Review Meeting Organized

29th November 2012, New Delhi

A Review Meeting on ICAR-ICARDA collaborative program was held at NASC Complex, New Delhi on 29 Nov 2012. The collaborative research program is in operation for the last four years involving six ICAR institutions and 12 State Agricultural Universities on food legumes, barley & wheat, Rangeland & crop-livestock systems, improving water productivity, and on socio-economic & policy research.

Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary-DARE & DG-ICAR was the Chief Guest. Dr. Ayyappan in his inaugural address expressed his satisfaction and appreciation on ICARDA’s productive partnership and highlighted the importance of the Workshop at right time. He stressed upon on the need for in-depth research in enhancing productivity in crops like lentil, grasspea and chickpea for eastern India, where these crops have huge potential in the existing/prevalent cropping systems. He also highlighted the targeted research on high quality fodder production, pre-breeding, water productivity, rangeland management and crop-livestock integration Socio-economic and policy issues in this region. He also emphasized on demonstration of improved technologies through KrishiVigyan Kendra (KVK’s) of ICAR. 

Dr. K. Shideed, ADG, International Cooperation & Communication, ICARDA, in his opening remarks as Guest of Honour thanked ICAR for its strong support and long relationships with ICARDA. He elaborated the ICARDA's research programme and stressed the importance of these programme in India. He also appraised ICARDA's interventions in South Asia and particularly in India which is going to increase with the implementation of CRP 1.1 (DrylandSyatems) which is a big domain for dry land systems.

Dr. S. K. Datta, DDG-CS, ICAR in his introductory remarks congratulated ICARDA- South Asia & China Regional Program (SACRP) for establishing strong linkages with various Indian institutions. While addressing, on the various researchable issues in India, he mentioned that barley network can be improved with the introduction of wild species and genomic sequencing which is important for this programme as these species may extinct if not carefully managed. Chickpea phenotypes also need more improvement with good yield potential so that post-harvest losses can be reduced.

While welcoming the distinguished participants, Dr. N. Nadarajan, Director, IIPR, Kanpur highlighted the importance and scope of ICAR-ICARDA collaboration, which is moving in right direction.

About 50 participants comprising of ICAR dignitaries, Senior Management, directors and scientists from partner institutions participated in the Workshop.

(Source: ICARDA)